Pinus radiata is a versatile, fast-growing, medium-density softwood, suitable for a wide range of uses.[4] Its silviculture is highly developed, and is built on a firm foundation of over a century of research, observation and practice.[4] Radiata pine is often considered a model for growers of other plantation species.[4] It is the most widely planted pine in the world, valued for rapid growth and desirable lumber and pulp qualities.

Although Pinus radiata is extensively cultivated as a plantation timber in many temperate parts of the world,[5] it faces serious threats in its natural range.[6]

It is native to three very limited areas located in Santa Cruz, Monterey Peninsula, and San Luis Obispo Counties. It is also found as the varietyPinus radiata var. binata or Guadalupe pine on Guadalupe Island, and a possibly separable P. radiata var./subsp.cedrosensis on Cedros Island, both in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of the northern Baja California Peninsula in Mexico.

In Australia, New Zealand, and Spain it is the leading introduced tree[7] and in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Kenya, and South Africa it is a major plantation species. It is also an introduced tree on the World's most remote island, Tristan da Cunha.

Pinus radiata is a coniferousevergreen tree growing to between 15–30 m (49–98 ft) in height in the wild, but up to 60 m (200 ft) in cultivation in optimum conditions, with upward pointing branches and a rounded top. The leaves ('needles') are bright green, in clusters of three (two in var. binata), slender, 8–15 cm (3.1–5.9 in) long and with a blunt tip. The cones are 7–17 cm (2.8–6.7 in) long, brown, ovoid (egg-shaped), and usually set asymmetrically on a branch, attached at an oblique angle. The bark is fissured and dark grey to brown.

It is closely related to bishop pine and knobcone pine, hybridizing readily with both species; it is distinguished from the former by needles in threes (not pairs), and from both by the cones not having a sharp spine on the scales.

The modern tree is vastly different from the native tree of Monterey. In plantations the tree is commonly planted at 4m x 4m spacing on a wide variety of landscapes from flat to moderately steep hills. Because of selective breeding and more recently the extensive use of Growth Factor seedlings,[citation needed] forests planted since the 1990s are of superior wood with very straight tall trunks without the problem of twin leaders. The trees are pruned in 3 lifts so that the lower 2/3 of a mature tree is branch- ( and hence knot-) free. In its natural state, the wood is poor quality: twisted, knotty and full of sap/resin only really suitable for firewood, but the modern product is very different.

Monterey pine is a species adapted to cope with stand-killing fire disturbance. Its cones are serotinous, i.e. they remain closed until opened by the heat of a forest fire; the abundant seeds are then discharged to regenerate on the burned forest floor. The cones may also burst open in hot weather.[8]

In South Africa, the tree is a threat to already scarce water resources.[12] The tree has remarkable roots. Monterey Pine roots will reach downward as far as physically permitted by subterranean conditions. Roots have been discovered up to 12 meters long.[13] Efforts to remove large quantities of the non-native tree in areas of South Africa have resulted in significant increases in accessible water.[12]

The three remaining wild stands of var. radiata (Monterey pine proper) are infected and under threat of extirpation from pine pitch canker caused by Fusarium circinatum, a fungal disease native to the southeast United States and found (in 1986) to have been introduced to California. When trees begin to die of the disease, they attract bark beetles which provide a pathway for infection of other trees. In some stands, 80–90% of trees are infected. If the disease is introduced in agroforestry areas dependent upon Monterey pine, such as New Zealand, it could have catastrophic effects in those countries as well.[5]

Sphaeropsis blight (Diplodia pinea) infects P.radiata in California and causes serious damage to plantations of the species in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa,[14] especially after hail damage to growing tips.

On Guadalupe Island, var. binata is critically endangered. Most of the population was destroyed as tens of thousands of feralgoats ate binata seedlings and caused soil erosion from the mid-19th century until just a few years ago. The older trees gradually died off until by 2001–2002 the population stood at only one hundred. With a program to remove the goats essentially complete by 2005, hundreds of young Guadalupe pines have started to grow up in habitat fenced after 2001, the first significant new growth in about 150 years. Possible accidental introduction of pine pitch canker is considered the biggest threat at present to the survival of the Guadalupe Island pine population.[15] The University of California's Russell Reservation forestry research station hosts an orchard planted with 73 Pinus radiata seedlings from Guadalupe Island and plays an important role in conserving the binata variety.[16]

P. radiata is "the dominant tree species in the Australian plantation estate";[17] so much so that many Australians are concerned by the resulting loss of native wildlife habitat, and in the Blue Mountains (NSW), the species is regarded as a weed and its removal is encouraged. [18][19]

P. radiata has greatly replaced the Valdivian temperate rain forests, where vast plantations have been planted for timber, again displacing the native forests.[20] In 2001, this species produced 5,580,724 cubic meters of lumber, or 95% of Chile's total lumber production.[21]

The Monterey pine (always called Pinus radiata in New Zealand) was first introduced into New Zealand in 1859[22][23] and today 89% of the country's plantation forests are of this species.[24] This includes the Kaingaroa Forest on the central plateau of the North Island which is the largest planted forest in the world. Mass plantings became common from 1900 in the Rotorua area where prison labour was used. In some areas it is considered an invasive species (termed a wilding conifer or more commonly wilding pine) where it has escaped from plantations. It is the most extensively used wood in New Zealand.

The Monterey pine is widely used in private gardens and public landscapes in temperate California, and similar climates around the world. It is a fast-growing tree, adaptable to a broad range of soil types and climates, though it does not tolerate temperatures below about −15 °C (5 °F). Its fast growth makes it ideal for landscapes and forestry; in a good situation, P. radiata can reach its full height in 40 years or so.

As timber radiata is suitable for a wide variety of uses,[25] and has a resinous fragrance while being worked.[26] It holds screws and nails well and takes paint and stain without difficulty - and modern kiln dried timber is very easy to work.[27] It is about 1/3 heavier than dried western red cedar and about the same weight as New Zealand and Fijian kauri. It is brittle when bent, so does not have the same load-bearing features as Oregon pine (Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga).

Radiata is used in house construction as weatherboards, posts, beams or plywood, in fencing, retaining walls, for concrete formers. It is also used to a limited extent in boat building where untreated ply is sometimes used, but must be encased in epoxy resin to exclude moisture.

The wood is normally kiln dried to 12% moisture in 6m long, clear lengths. It is available treated with a range of chemical salts, or untreated. Chemical salt treatment is well proven and such timber is frequently used in the ground as posts and poles as part of structures such as retaining walls and pole houses. The name applied to this treatment is tanalized wood. H1 and H2 treatment is suited to indoor use. H3 is the standard house timber and this grade is used for fence palings. H4 and H5 are the standard for inground use. In New Zealand a 1995 change to no longer require boron treatment in house framing timber,[28] was a key factor in the leaky homes crisis,[29] but since 2003 a series of changes have now improved the regulations.[30]

Lower grade timber is converted to pulp to make newsprint.[31] Higher grade timber is used in house construction. Radiata is used chipped to make particle board sheets, commonly used in flooring. Other sheet products are hardboard, softboard and ply. Most ply is structural and available in 7-22mm sizes. A small amount of higher grade ply is used to produce thinner (4 and 7mm) ply suitable for furniture, cabinet work and boat building. This is knot and crack free and glued with resorcinol waterproof glue. Since the 1990s finger jointed joinery-grade wood has become available in up to 6m lengths in a wide range of profiles.

In 1958, New Zealand boat designer Des Townson started building 186 eleven-foot, cold-moulded Zephyr-class dinghies, using Pinus radiata. In 2011 these hand-built boats fetched very high prices and were generally in excellent condition.

The bark is also used as a substrate for potting and re-potting orchids.

Pinus radiata is the most common species of Christmas tree in Australia and New Zealand.